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Warily, Central Point annexes land The City Council keeps in mind two ballot measures that could hamstring the city government By BUFFY POLLOCK CENTRAL POINT - A pair of initiatives that could prevent the city from affording new growth did not stop the council from annexing more land recently - though concerns were evident. Council members approved annexation of 22 acres at Beall Lane and Highway 99 on which developers are planning a mixed-use project within the city's transit-oriented design corridor. The corridor encompasses one block on each side of Highway 99 from Beall Lane to Oak Street. It is zoned for residential and multi-use development. At its last session, the council discussed the benefits of extending the TOD corridor and offering what developer Mike Montero called "affordable homes for young families and empty-nesters." But the potential negative effects of measures 15-25 and 15-26, which will be decided Tuesday in a special election, eclipsed the talk of new developments. If approved, the measures would not only force the city to hold an election for any new fee or fee increase, but would require the city to refund planning and building fees that were increased last year to cover operating costs. City Administrator Jim Bennett estimated the refund could cost the city more than $100,000. Councilman Dennis Richardson said the city was struggling to continue making good decisions while awaiting the outcome of the election, but big decisions were being delayed. "That's the struggle," he said. "We just wait and conduct business as it needs to be done. We've decided that we must conduct all business that will not have a dramatic financial impact on Central Point. "But anything that comes up between now and March 12 that would require a substantial amount of capital investment will be delayed until after the election." The annexation will accommodate a planned housing development called Cascade Meadows, which will be similar to the transit-oriented design project Griffin Oaks on Taylor Road. Plans include 105 single-family homes, 22 townhouses, a pair of two-story commercial buildings at Haskell Street and Beall Lane, a mini-storage facility, 1.5 acres of park space and a cell tower, said community planner Matt Samitore. The tower's placement would require property to either be rezoned or placed closer to Boise Cascade headquarters, already zoned commercial. Samitore said the project is a positive contribution to the city's future because it is a continuation of the TOD district featuring alley-loaded homes, detached garages and tree-lined streets. The city recently received a national award for its TOD developments. Samitore said the new development is expected to break ground by spring. Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.